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18 October 2018
Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations Games
Peter Makgato, Emmarie Fouché, Lynique Beneke, and Sefako Mokhosoa at the Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations Games. Fouché was one of the coaches, and all the athletes medalled in the jumps.
South Africa, Africa, and eventually the world’s leading jumping academy.

This is the aim of the Kovsie Jumping Academy, says head coach, Emmarie Fouché. She set the bar high for what they would like to achieve. The academy was brought into life on the Bloemfontein Campus at the beginning of the year and already produced the goods for Fouché to dream big.

The long-jump facilities at Pellies Park have also been upgraded to meet the standards of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

“The academy was the vision of Prof Nicky Morgan (then Vice-Rector: Operations) and DB Prinsloo, Director of KovsieSport. I headed a jumping academy at the University of Johannesburg and the university approached me to bring it to Kovsies,” said Fouché, an IAAF-qualified coach.

In Johannesburg, she coached most of the country’s best jumpers such as Zarck Visser, Khotso Mokoena, Lynique Beneke, and Andrea Dalle Ave. Beneke, the national women’s long-jump champion since 2013, followed her coach to Bloemfontein and participated for Kovsies in 2018.

Lots of successes

Beneke is also the national student champion, while Peter Makgato (long jump) and Sefako Mokhosoa (triple jump) both took silver at the University Sports South Africa championships. At the Confederation of University and Colleges Sports Associations Games, all three Kovsies medalled – Beneke and Mokhosoa with gold and Makgato with silver.

Furthermore, we have Michaéla Wright, who is both the South African and African U20 champion in the long jump, and Paralympian Juanelie Meijer, who ended fourth at the Commonwealth Games.

According to Fouché, Beneke and Makgato act as assistant coaches at the academy with the aim of taking over one day.

News Archive

Meet the person behind the new #FaceOfFacebook
2016-05-19

Reuben “R” Davids

The votes have been counted, and we have a winner! After much excitement and a fairly close contest, Reuben “R” Davids emerged victorious from the top five contestants selected by our panel of judges. We chatted with the vibrant and enthusiastic Mr Davids to get a sense of the person who will be our Facebook ambassador for the next year.

What does the “R” stand for?

“Interestingly, some also know me as Vuyo. It's not a name on my birth certificate or anything; I just really like it. And I also coincidentally found out that it means “joy/happiness”, and I do enjoy being happy.”

What is your field of study, and how far along are you?

“I am pursuing a career in the economics field as a third-year BCom Accounting student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences here at the University of the Free State.”

Are you originally from Bloemfontein?

“Yes, born and bred. I've been a Bloem Kid since day one.”

How is it that you ended up here, studying at the UFS?

“The UFS has always been one of my favourite universities. During my high school period, I was constantly exposed to people from my neighbourhood as well as schoolmates who performing excellently here at UFS, and it didn't go unnoticed. So I have always been drawn to the prestige that UFS carries.”

Which residence are you in, and what do you enjoy most about res life?

“I currently stay at home with the family, but for my first 2 years of study I resided at ConLaurês. What I enjoyed the most about res life is the freedom and independence that you get. It also enables one to participate in campus life much easier. It actually helps one grow and mature into the adult you're supposed to become with all the challenges and responsibilities that you're faced with.”

What do you hope to accomplish during your term as the #FaceOfFacebook?

“I enjoy the art of presenting (as well as being an MC), and being the #FaceOfFacebook will enable me to exercise that skill. Also, my interaction skills will be exercised. That being said, I would like to have those skills developed further by the end of my term as #FaceOfFacebook.”

What is your motivation in your studies, in taking part in this contest, and in life?

“I am an adrenaline junkie. I like taking on challenge; so what I normally do is I set a certain goal for myself and then take on the challenge to achieve that goal. That's my number one motivating factor. And I think I'm also inspired by the failures and successes of myself and of those around me.”

Reuben has already been featured in a #PeopleOfKovsies post on Facebook, and appeared in his first Facebook video covering the Open Day on our Bloemfontein Campus.

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